What’s in My Makeup Bag that Promotes Youthful Skin and an Ageless Look

Today is going to be a total “girls” video because I’m sharing what’s in my makeup bag!

Before I do the reveal, I just want to give a brief history of when I changed my makeup products and beauty regiment, why I did it, and what’s been happening to my skin and overall health since then.

My why…

I’ve gone through different periods of makeup styles; times when I wore a lot, and times when I wore less. I would say makeup is a way to express yourself and at times could speak volumes about your state of mind.

I grew up not being allowed to wear makeup. In junior high I remember vividly girls telling me if I wore some makeup I could be prettier so I started wearing lip-gloss. By the time I was in high school I was drawing in my eyebrows like Groucho Marx because my best friend at the time had these beautiful thick eyebrows and I guess I wanted to look like her. I looked pretty silly.

Then of course I went through having no eyebrows, just lines drawn in that made me look like I was surprised all the time. (The eyebrow memory lane is so embarrassing!)

In my late twenties I went through a phase of wearing no makeup and wearing sweats all the time. You could probably could imagine my state of mind during that period.

It was in my thirties when I really discovered my look and found comfort in my own skin. I started to appreciate what was beautiful about me, on the outside and inside. I think it’s something all women go through; no matter how others view you, you’re always a harsher judge on yourself.

I believe many women easily discount their good qualities and are quick to focus on their flaws and failures. To this regard, I can only say that finding yourself, discovering your inner beauty, and uncovering your outer beauty is a journey worth taking. And that journey begins when you start making spirituality a bigger priority in your life.

My thirties were defined by my quest to be healthier in mind, body, and spirit. I started to eat better, workout more, and get back into meditation and prayer.

It was during this time that my skin care and beauty regiment also shifted. I had stopped wearing makeup for about 3 years and when I was ready to wear some again, I thought the makeup I owned didn’t represent me anymore. I also thought, “Does makeup have an expiration date?” And they do.

So I cleaned up my makeup drawer, through away tons of stuff and started over. There’s more to the story, but that’s the gist of it.

Now I wash my face with brown sugar and olive oil. Brush my teeth with neem toothpaste and try to be as natural about my makeup as I can. I was reborn a hippie and thank God for that because natural is the way to go.

Going natural, like using olive oil for my face and body moisturizer I believe is the main reason I have clear and youthful skin at the age of 40.

Using products that are toxic chemical free, I feel like I’m protecting my body from unnecessary exposure to things that may cause me harm. Supporting companies that create healthier products for women really makes me feel good because our dollars and our demand is what informs the industry of what we want. And we should want to tell them that we buy and demand healthier, well labeled, and sustainably made products.

To learn my full skin care regiment checkout my video on the benefits of olive oil.

What’s in my makeup bag =)

I’ll show you the makeup products in the order that I use them.

My primer of choice is Amazing Cosmetics Anti-Aging Primer.

After my olive oil moisturizer has been absorbed by my skin I apply a natural primer around my eyes and face. Primer helps to keep makeup in place. This particular primer also has anti-aging benefits. I’ve tried many primers and this is the one I’ve used for the last few years and I am very happy with it.

Then I apply a bareMinerals tinted moisturizer all over my face.

I choose to wear a tinted moisturizer instead of a full coverage foundation because the latter just looks too heavy for me. Also heavy foundations can make you look older, settling in your fine lines, although a good primer will prevent that from happening. I’m not averse to foundation, I would opt for it for a special event where I wanted to look flawless, but for everyday use, in my opinion it’s a lot.

Next I use concealer by Josie Maran to cover up any dark circles and imperfections I may have.

All her products, from ingredients to packaging are natural and socially responsible. She has created a beauty line that is a wonderful and an effective alternative to the usual makeup and I love buying and supporting her brand.

I use her concealer just underneath my eyes, next to the nose area, as well as the nose and upper lip area. I set the concealer with loose powder, applying powder only on my nose, eyes, and upper lip area.

I do not wear powder all over my face as I think it can make you look older and too made-up. I may use more powder when I go out at night, but most of the time I don’t.

My powder of choice is bareMinerals because again, they are made without harmful chemicals.

My favorite makeup product is bronzer also made by bareMinerals.

If I was stuck on an island with only one piece of makeup, it would have to be my bronzer. It just makes you look so healthy and vibrant looking. Aside from my skin, it’s the thing that I get the most compliments on.

I apply bronzer on the hollows of my cheeks, and a touch on my chin and forehead.

My next favorite makeup is my blush by Laura Geller.

I don’t know how popular this brand is, but it was a lucky to find for me. It has the perfect blend of pinks and golds that create the youthful glow I love.

If you want to look youthful and alive-looking, don’t leave home without some blush. I place it on the apples of my cheeks, maybe a touch on my eye lids and voila instant pow! You look alive! I know that may sound weird, but women know exactly what I’m talking about.

Then I thicken the look of my eye brows with my Anastasia brow pencil and highlighter.

Anastasia products are not known to be chemical free, and it’s my goal to change it. So if any of you have a healthy eyebrow pencil alternative please share it with me.

For now I don’t feel so bad using it because supporting her brand also means supporting the charitable organizations her company supports which are many, most of which improve the lives of women and children around the world.

But, I would switchover to support a brand that was natural and Eco friendly so that it will show companies like Anastasia what is important to me.

It’s important to have an eyebrow shape that compliments and adds lift to your face to help achieve an ageless look.

Next I will put on a little eye shadow to create brighter looking eyes with my Josie Maran eye-shadow kits.

Lighter colors in the insides of your eye lid area, draws the attention of people to your eyes and adds to the brightness of your face.

I use Tarte eye-liners.

Tarte is another cosmetic company that chooses to create natural and Eco friendly products. I use the their clay pencil for my day look and now they just came out with a liquid liner that I will use for my evening look.

I like to draw my eyeliner like cat-eyes because it creates the appearance of lifted eyes, enhancing an ageless appearance, and I think it’s pretty.

Finding a natural mascara that works can be tricky, but I finally found one. It’s Physicians Formula Organic Wear Fake Out.